The past semesters have given a positive impact on my work standards and personal approach. I improved my creative strategies in using different Adobe softwares, features and tools, and have applied to current projects. I also use proper research methods now when finding references. Also, I enhance my skills in terms of HTML, CSS, and Figma-related tasks. I now have basic knowledge of Photoshop and Illustrator and have experience in using Blender. Aside from my software proficiency, personally, I approach projects as a team player and I frequently share my creative ideas to the group. Also, I’m a detail-oriented person so I always double-check my output before submission.

However, with these strengths, they have equivalent weaknesses; Since I’m detail-oriented, I tend to become perfectionist. My indecisiveness and procrastination affects my productivity. Also, I sometimes lack confidence in public speaking. This semester, I try to do better at them by: focusing on progress over perfection, starting my work immediately and being diligent with time constraint tasks. I will trust my instincts and accept mistakes to avoid overthinking. If I have a creative concept in mind, I will try to share it more with my team little-by-little and welcome any feedback.

Semester 2 contributed to my growth in ICT Media Design. It was a way for me to discover the path I would choose. Professionally, I would like to focus more and dedicate my time to become a UI/UX designer, since I particularly enjoyed working on tasks related to prototyping. Aside from that, I quite like working with brand identity-related projects such as: layout, sketches, choosing color palette and typography while still using Adobe Creative Cloud applications so I’m still open for other options and opportunities besides from being a UI/UX designer.

My goal for Semester 3 is to enhance my capabilities in UI/UX by practicing more, polishing my techniques and reflecting on my progress. I will also continue to practice more web development skills (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) from time-to-time. Also, I’ll continue to explore Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign so I can express my creative side there even more. Since I’m open for future opportunities, I will still welcome a variety of creative design projects where I can explore sketching, editing layouts and 3D designing.

One thing I’m currently working on is this side project I volunteered with at Prodrive Technologies for their website contact forms research and improvements. Working on a UI/UX project is one of my steps that could lead me towards becoming a UI/UX designer and I’m glad that I can finally use my learnings in real-life projects. This definitely allowed me to start my progress to actively pursue my main goal.

Before I discovered planners and checklists, I tend to procrastinate when things get out-of-hand and all over the place because I don’t know how to start the task anymore. To prevent this from happening this semester, I use Trello Board that allows me to organize my activities and I love how I can personalize my tracker with its features.

First, I divided the tasks into categories: To-do, In Progress, Review, and Done. Then I color-code per learning outcomes and on which specific project it falls to. I also use checklist to breakdown the plans of the major project. To keep track of upcoming deadlines, I always set the date and time so I can prioritize what needs to be accomplished first.

I feel satisfied and gain momentum when I put any task in the “Done” category. My goal is to prevent cramming and procrastination; it motivates me to have proper time-management and finish everything (personal and group tasks) on deadline since this is what I struggled with before.

Our group dynamics didn’t really start as smooth as we all intended it to be. We faced challenges with communication and organization, which led to some setbacks in our progress. As a member of the group, I became determined to overcome some obstacles too. Through regular meetings and contributions, I always try to be present and attend at all times. I also try to complete my tasks on time, contributing to group discussions, and helping clarify any issues or concerns. I have the initiative to talk among the team members so we’ll be on the same page and our goals remain clear.

This then became the starting point for me to be the leader of the design department. Leading the design department of our group feels both empowering and challenging for me. I learned to balance creativity with organization because as a leader, I felt a sense of responsibility to guide my team so we can deliver high quality designs. I apply my core values of passion, creativity, organization, and dependability.

My passion keeps me engaged while I encourage creativity and openness to my groupmates during our game design process. I make sure to provide clear instructions and help the design department in meeting the deadlines. I stay committed and support my teammates, creating a reliable and productive environment that helps us reach our goals.

As I approach the end of the semester, I would like to continue improving open communication and maintaining organized workflows. I know these improvements will not only help me work better but also contribute to my personal growth and effectiveness in future and real life projects.

I’m currently in the part of my life where I need to have options of what work I’d consider in the future. Additionally, I have to choose what specialization I will focus on after this semester. Even though my internship is in Semester 5, the tips and advice I will receive from professionals will help me create decisions. I will also have prior knowledge of what they're looking for and prepare myself for it.

So when I received an email about the ICT Career Day at Strijp S TQ organized by Fontys, I immediately grabbed the opportunity and signed up for November 14. I have two objectives that I would like to accomplish at Career Day. First, I want to decide on the specialization I can pursue. Even though I have a specialization in mind, I hope this event can help me finalize my thoughts. Second, I want to inquire with companies and ask questions about internships.

Before going to Career Day, I already had a clear idea of which specialization I’d go for in Semester 4, which is Smart Mobile. So, I went to their booth and asked questions about the curriculum, what projects I could expect, and which programming languages would be used. After getting this information, I also checked the Game Development booth to get a sense of what it offers and to see if I might like it.

As I walked through and checked different booths during Career Day, I focused on talking and asking questions to those of Media Design companies specifically, Stuurmen Branding Agency, Blueriq, Alten, Handpicked Agencies, Ministerie van Defensie, and Livewall. I asked them about their company, possible internships, what would be expected of me as an intern, and what projects they work on to see if they fit my interests.

Out of all, I’m interested in working with the Stuurmen Branding Agency because they’re known for building brand strategies which I enjoy. I also like Handpicked Agencies, and Ministerie van Defensie because they focus on UI/UX designs which I’m particularly more into. From these 3 options, I just hope that they will still be available once the internship comes.

Asking for and applying feedback are very important steps in my growth this semester. No matter what task, I actively ask feedback from my peers, teachers and clients to help me improve my iterations. I need other perspective aside from my own, especially when I’m in doubt of my work. I’m committed to continuously learn to enhance the quality of my work and I will carry this practice (of asking advice) to my future career.

Aside from asking for feedback, applying them is equally important. I turn the advice I receive into actionable changes by noting down their suggestions, analyzing them and including them in my project. I believe this progress is also reflected positively in my performance, showing how much I value meeting expectations and be recognized for the effort and quality I put into my work.

I volunteered for a side project at Prodrive Technologies, where I worked with the marketing team to improve the company’s contact form. Even though I was in a different department at the company, I saw an opportunity to contribute by making the form more user-friendly to increase completion and submission rates. Prodrive Technologies is known for its efficient and innovative solutions, so my task was to make sure the contact form aligned with its mission by enhancing the user experience.

Since I’m really interested in UI/UX design and wanted to gain more hands-on experience, I was excited to take on this project. It gave me the chance to apply my skills in prototyping and user-centered design, moving me closer to my goal of becoming a UI/UX designer.

After receiving the project brief, I created a 4-week plan to make the most of my 12-hour weekly schedule and shared it with the team. After that, we had a meeting where they provided me with all the necessary information, including form submission data, user interaction videos, and competitor benchmarks. I summarized everything into a document that detailed pain points, drop-offs, and obstacles to make the analysis easier.

Next, I conducted competitor research, looking at contact forms from companies like Vieworks, Emergent Vision Technologies, and Daheng Imaging. I focused on things like form design, field placement, CTAs, and user engagement techniques. From my analysis, I found that most competitors used simple forms with only the essential fields, clear CTAs, and inline validation for error handling. This research provided insights into how competitors approach form design, which could help improve Prodrive Technologies’ contact form strategy.

Based on these findings, I created a prototype in Figma, focusing on improving the contact form design. I made sure the layout and functionality were user-friendly, applying UX principles to enhance usability. I also took time to review academic and industry resources on form design to ensure my recommendations were based on proven methods.

Lastly, I put together a document showing my UX recommendations, supported by research and actionable suggestions to improve form completion and submission rates. Then, I wrapped up the project by creating and delivering a presentation summarizing my findings, prototype, and proposed improvements with the team.

How it went: The project went well and served as a great opportunity to apply my skills in UI/UX design. It also gave me hands-on experience working within time constraints, gathering and analyzing data, and making design improvements. This experience was very suitable for my goal of becoming a UI/UX designer and helped me learn how to work efficiently in a real-world setting.

What I learned: I gained practical experience in analyzing user behavior, spotting issues, and designing solutions. The process of working through these challenges taught me how research and creativity come together to improve design. This project deepened my understanding of UX principles and allowed me to refine my design skills even further.

Moving forward: I’ll keep improving my design skills, especially in prototyping and research, and continue exploring more UI/UX opportunities. This project inspired me to take on more design challenges, and I’m excited to gain further experience and learn more in the future. I’ll apply these lessons to my upcoming projects and continue growing as a designer.

Over the past semesters until now, I’ve been exploring the field of media design to better understand what resonates with me and what I would like to do after graduation. Through this exploration, I’ve had the opportunity to assess my interests and figure out what process I enjoy most. Interestingly enough, I find UI/UX designing more enjoyable.

In UI/UX design, I like knowing what the interface problem is and then eventually capturing or creating an intuitive prototype that caters to users’ needs. It allows me to quickly translate my ideas into actual concepts. I find it satisfying since I can experiment, refine my own designs and have an impact on the final product’s usability and aesthetic.

Since I’ve decided on the path of job I’d like to take, I created my LinkedIn profile this semester and added information such as education, experience, skills and contact information so I’m set to explore job opportunities.

As I’m actively seeking out job vacancies, I’m also in the process of creating my portfolio focused on UI/UX projects that I’ve done and completed so far to present to my profile. This portfolio will increase my online presence in LinkedIn and highlight my design iterations, also the practical results I achieved.

When searching for job vacancies, I want a job that fits my interests. So when looking for companies in Eindhoven, I review the job descriptions and requirements to understand what they’re looking for. From this, I’ve noticed a common trend among them, which is proficiency in using Figma to create prototypes, similar to Online Klik I just explored. Aside from that company like AirAdvisor prefer those that are up-to-date with the latest UI trends and have a strong portfolio showcasing UI/UX skills.

Since the beginning of this journey, I’ve been continuously exploring and have experience on using these applications mentioned on the UI/UX prototyping and I’m glad that they’re aligned to what job opportunities I’m seeking right now.

As we’re not yet graduating but we’re near to the end, I’ll keep on building my portfolio and improve my skill sets so that I become more valuable to the company I will come across in the future.